The Ladies welcomed Carlisle City for the first home game of the season with Sarah P returning to midfield after the injury had kept her out of the first two matches.
The game started at a furious pace with Newlaithes looking assured in possession and they took the lead after five minutes following some neat one touch passing between the defence and midfield to clear the ball up to Pat on the right wing. She floated the ball through to Faye, who raced clear of the City defence to score. The game was very open with City looking dangerous on the break, however Newlaithes were creating the better of the chances. Katie O had a shot well saved and then she was unlucky with a header with Faye's follow up going just over. City began to gain the upper hand in the centre of midfield but despite their pressure, the Newlaithes defence stood firm. Then on 28 minutes Sarah P did well to send Faye through for number two. A minute later, it was almost a carbon copy as the same two players combined for Faye to complete her 3rd hat-trick in consecutive matches! Newlaithes kept up the pressure and Pat was unlucky to see a shot thump back off the post with the City keeper well beaten. However the score remained 3-0 at half time.
Newlaithes knew that City would come out fighting in the 2nd half and after 48 minutes City pulled one back when they were awarded a free kick near the left hand touchline. The ever dangerous Bella Martindale stepped up to fire the ball into the top of the net giving Newlaithes' keeper Abbie no chance. Then three minutes later they pulled another back when Pat was unlucky to put the ball into her own net. The open play continued; City's tails were up and they were winning the majority of 50/50 balls. Although they seemed to have the upper hand in the centre of the pitch, they were not creating many clear cut chances, while Pat and Katie O were running riot on the wings for Newlaithes, with Sarah P looking cool in the middle and Faye virtually unstoppable up front. Newlaithes had shot after shot that either missed the target or was well saved by the City keeper while at the other end City continued to try to catch Newlaithes on the break. After 72 minutes, City won a corner on the left and Meg McCormick attacked the ball well to volley home from close range and level the score. City were showing tremendous grit and determination yet credit to Newlaithes, they kept their heads and were still creating the better of the chances. Laura W was unlucky when she thumped a free kick against the bar from 25 yards. There were strong claims from Newlaithes when the ball appeared to have crossed the line before being volleyed clear by a City defender but the ref was not in a position to give it. The shots continued to rain in on the City goal but their keeper was in excellent form to keep out anything that was on target. Then in the 80th minute, Newlaithes finally made the breakthrough when Katie O took a throw-in to Faye who was on the left hand edge of the City area. Faye turned her marker well to curl the ball in at the far post to regain the lead for Newlaithes. A few minutes later and Newlaithes sealed the match when Sarah P slid the ball through to Katie O, who made no mistake from ten yards out.
The score finished 5-3 to Newlaithes in what had been an enthralling match. On shots and chances created, Newlaithes thoroughly deserved to win while at the same time, City always posed a threat with their dogged determination. However despite City showing great strength in the centre of the pitch, the Newlaithes defence denied them any real clear-cut chances while at the other end, Newlaithes could and maybe should have made the scoreline appear more comfortable.
Although Faye scored four goals with yet another excellent performance, Newlaithes player of the match was Pat for her endless running - in attack she caused all kinds of problems for City and then worked tirelessly to track back and cover in defence. The Newlaithes players awarded away player of the match to the City keeper, Isabel Winder who made countless excellent saves to keep the Newlaithes score down.
The Ladies have a break from League duties next week when they make their debut in the FA Women's Cup away to Middleton Athletic from Rochdale. Best of luck ladies!!
